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Hiker Discovers Alcoholic Stream in Hawaii

Nothing beats being in the great outdoors. There’s no telling what you’ll see out there. After all, our planet holds untold wonders just waiting to be discovered. Hikers might find breathtaking views or secluded spots to clear their minds. On the other hand, they may get to see some majestic wildlife in person. Who knows? They might even come upon an alcoholic stream.

One hiker in Hawaii found an alcoholic stream while enjoying the majesty of the Aloha State. The unnamed hiker was enjoying some time outdoors in Waipio on the island of Oahu when he came upon the stream of booze, according to Hawaii News Now. When he got close to the stream, he could smell booze. So, he contacted a local environmental activist.

That activist, Carroll Cox, talked a little about the alcoholic stream. “The other day we came here you would think it was a beer pub that hadn’t opened its doors in three or four days,” he told the news outlet.

Just how alcoholic is the Hawaiian stream? Well, Hawaii News Now contacted an independent lab to test the water. They found that the stream contains about 1.2% alcohol by volume. Additionally, the water contains about .04% sugar.

 The average beer contains about 5% alcohol by volume. So, no one is going to be taking a dip and getting drunk. In fact, it seems like there’s just enough alcohol to pollute the water and make it reek of booze.

How Did the Stream Become Alcoholic?

With so many strange, fascinating, and seemingly impossible things in the world, it’s easy to imagine that this is one of those super weird things that just happens. However, that isn’t the case. In fact, this story is nowhere near as fun as it sounds.

After discovering the alcoholic stream, the Department of Health launched an investigation. They found that the alcohol originated from a drainpipe about 120 meters below a freeway. That pipe carries wastewater from Waipio’s industrial area. Due to the pipe’s location, the Department of Transportation owns it.

Hawaii’s DOT tracked the source of the alcohol back to Paradise Beverages, the state’s largest producer of liquor and other alcoholic beverages. Their warehouse is directly across the freeway from the pipe that turned the stream alcoholic.

Anthony Rowe, Paradise Beverages’ director of operations spoke to Hawaii News Now about the alcoholic stream. He said they have no idea what could be causing the booze spill. “Right now, we’ve had the Department of Transportation come in with their representatives and we’re dealing with them and we’ve also been contacted by the Department of Health,” he told the outlet. He added, “[The spill] might be coming from us so that’s why we’re working with the proper authorities.”